Don't try to calculate a concussion by some wild estimation of impact force. That is anxiety talking.

Chins are cushioned by the TMJ before they pass the force to the brain.


What difference would a specific diagnosis make?

Partly anxiety and part curiosity on the science. For example, I remember reading of your example of a bowling ball dropped from two feet. I have trouble mentally gauging analogous situations to other more common examples like two people's heads bumping together. My spouse's head obviously does not weigh anywhere near a bowling ball but her body weight is 150 lbs and she traveled the same distance as a bowling ball but in a different direction and perhaps speed. Basketball and soccer players seem to get concussions jumping a few feet and clashing heads. Not sure if my situation could be in the same category.

We have some socially distant outdoor group sports that have resumed; trying to gauge whether to rest up and take it easy or continue as usual. I know I'm not talking to doctors and wouldn't suggest that. But I enjoy hearing of people's experiences and thoughts nonetheless.

That's interesting regarding TMJ cushioning a blow before damage is done to the brain, by the way, and something I didn't know. Boxers seem to target the chin for "knock outs" and are often successful. Pros seem to take a lot of jabs to the chin without being knock out and perhaps not concussed, and again I have a tough time making analogous examples of force. A headbutt to the chin is something I haven't really observed, although I know headbutting in general seems to be a potentially dangerous move in pro fighting.

Nobody who knows anything about head trauma tries to treat the 'impact force estimation.' They treat symptoms. Absent symptoms, there is nothing to treat.

Soccer players smash heads as they compete to head the ball opposite directions. They smash their heads together with force. They do not just bump their head.

Don't look for symptoms. The brain will gladly manifest symptoms when you look for them. It can play back symptoms from traumas from years ago.

This is not "part curiosity on the science." I've seen these excuses many times before. This is OCD and anxiety. The OCD says "I must understand." as a justification for the anxiety.

Your biggest battle is not with occasional head bumps. It is with the anxious and irrational thoughts that are triggered with every perceived head bump.

Did your wife hurt her head? Get a concussion? She took a more direct hit than you. But, your jaw movement absorbed some of the impact and reduced the G force to both of you.

Boxers have their jaws clinched so they are like a solid part of the head.
Their concussions are mostly rotational. Those are very dangerous and traumatic.

Most people move in to kiss gently & slowly, even if one trips and falls forward not enough speed/force.

From our sticky threads up near the top..-
Anxiety, bumps, symptoms , treatment info links